BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The use of subarachnoid neurolytic blockade to control pain has decreased in recent years due to the introduction of new techniques, but it is still important to control refractory cancer pain. This study aimed at presenting a case of cancer pain where this technique was used to control pain. CASE REPORT: Male patient, 45 years old, with locally advanced anal canal scamous cell carcinoma and ulcerated lesion in perineal region with enterovesical fistula and local infection. Patient had severe pain with numerical verbal scale (NVS) = 10 and was being pharmacologically treated with high opioid doses and adjuvants without good response. Subarachnoid neurolytic blockade was induced with 5% phenol with significant pain relief; 20 minutes after the procedure patient has referred 80% relief. Improvement has remained for 21 days when patient died due to infectious complications. CONCLUSION: This case has illustrated the use of subarachnoid blockade with 5% phenol to control cancer pain. The conclusion is that for selected cases, where life expectation is limited, this technique may be successfully used.
Analgesia; Cancer pain; Neurolytic blockade
